Piazza del Popolo

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About Piazza del Popolo

The Piazza del Popolo is the northern gateway to the historic center. The Via Flaminia reached the city there, and those coming from northern Europe entered Rome through the Porta del Popolo. The current oval shape, with two exedras of fountains and statues, is a design by Giuseppe Valadier from the early 19th century. In the center stands the obelisco Flaminio, brought from Egypt in the time of Augustus and erected there in 1589.

On the south side, two nearly identical churches, Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto, frame the start of three streets: the Via del Corso, the Via del Babuino (which leads to Piazza di Spagna) and the Via di Ripetta. To the east, stairways and ramps climb to the Pincio terrace, from where you can see the whole square and São Pedro's dome in the distance.

Next to the Porta del Popolo is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Popolo, a Renaissance church with top-class works. In the Capela Cerasi, to the left of the high altar, are two canvases by Caravaggio painted in 1600 and 1601: the Conversion of Saint Paul, with the saint fallen beneath a horse, and the Crucifixion of Saint Peter. In the same church, the Capela Chigi was designed by Raphael and contains statues by Bernini, and the choir houses frescoes by Pinturicchio.

The church is an active place of worship: shoulders and knees covered, and silence during Masses. To see the Caravaggio paintings up close you need to enter the side chapel, which usually has coin-operated lighting.